Sunday, July 06, 2008

...Not Help but Smile

Some nights we'd lay stranded
on our beach island hammock home front
where our words grew
around us like palm fronds.
You'd question me
and I'd till your reserved soil,
our free flowing foliage answers
were always well-planted.

We'd snuggle closer
and I'd learn your body
while you stared up
at the cloudless sky, thinking
those stars know you
before you knew yourself

but most of our twilight hours
were spent on our asphalt shore
where the high tide headlights
never rushed in too quickly
and we'd debate our potential
during which our worries were wasted
in misty smoke breath.

Each night
the luminous lamp light
rose with the setting sun
and we'd stare up, directly.
broken blind eyes
but only separation
could break smiles,
those elephant-ivory teeth
that gleamed serenely
like perfect moments
captured from time

your perfect moments
you're perfect

In the backyard
we were the natives
standing hand in hand
with our hearts in our palms

we never missed a beat

or a wave crashing

Eventually each grain of sand
is pulled out to the depths.
You followed along.
Interwoven fingers struggled
but those waves
swept you out into the back alley sea
and beyond--

ivory,
strewn about desolate pavement.

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